Cosplay Interview with Garrett

September 13th, 2017 Yunie

It’s time once more for another cosplayer interview! This next one, shared from Cosplay Blog with a Brain, is an interview with Garrett! He’s a newer cosplayer from Colorado, who is ready to expand into more of the costuming arenas!

Garrett out of costume

What’s your cosplay alias and why did you choose it?
I don’t have one of these yet… maybe I should come up with one.

How many years have you been cosplaying and what got you started?
I started cosplaying in 2013. My friends told me that I needed to go to a convention, so I prepared with a Winterfell outfit, my Gryffindor school uniform and, Fix-It Felix Jr. I had done some costuming for Halloween and drama starting around 2006, but Starfest of 2013 is where I really broke into cosplay.

Garrett as Jon Snow from Game of Thrones

What has been some of your favorite things to work with when constructing costumes and why?
I have really enjoyed getting to work with new materials every time I make a new costume. I have discovered the benefits of a seam ripper, so that is one of my favorite tools. I always pray that I don’t have to use it, but I am so glad I have it when I need to use it.

What are you excited to be working with in the future and why?
I really want to experiment with thermoplastics in the future, but I am so nervous to work with them for how pricey they are.

What are some of the traits you like to see in other costumes and who do you think does well in them?
I really like to see detail put into costumes. Things that you don’t notice from a distance, but you notice up close, such as fabric texture or material type. I also like to see well done make-up since I am inexperienced in that area. I wish I could give more specific examples of who I see do these things well, but most of my inspiration comes from friends. Anne Osborne, Ginny DiGuiseppi, Kitty Krell, and Grant Scovel are some good examples of some of my friends who inspire me.

What is your view of the “cosplay scene”?
My view of the cosplay scene is mostly people watching at conventions. I just like to see everyone dressed as a character all over the place.

Garrett as Fix-It Felix from Wreck-It Ralph, photo by Not Literally Productions

What are some of the things you want to see change in the scene?
I would love to see some negativity disappear. I have enjoyed following the Game of Thrones Costuming group on Facebook, as they have been great at enforcing an environment that promotes growth through positive comments. Also, cheaper material prices would be nice.

What is some advice you could give people starting to get into cosplay?
I would start by basing your first costumes off of clothing that you already own. Either modify something that you have, or use that clothing as a basic pattern. Once you have mastered the basics, you can move onto so much more. The internet is also an excellent resource for tips, tutorials, and ideas.

What are some of your favorite conventions you’ve attended and why?
I have been limited by cost to conventions in Colorado, so my favorite two conventions are Denver Comic Con and Starfest. DCC is cool because it is so big and there are so many people to see. I like Starfest because there is a more intimate feeling.

Give a random fact about one of your costumes that you’re proud of!
I hand-stitched the loops for the cord on the front of my Stannis cosplay. It is one of those detail pieces that I talked about earlier.

Garrett as Stannis Baratheon from Game of Thrones, photo by Not Literally Productions

Thanks for the interview, Garrett! Hope to catch up at a convention soon!

A cosplayer for over a decade now, Yunie is a giant nerd who still pretends she’s cool. She runs several sites on her own, including Engi no Shouzoku! Cosplay, Cosplay Blog with a Brain, and her store, Yunie’s Designs. An avid fan of fellow nerds, Yunie loves attending conventions and dorking around in costumes with all types. Oh, and if there’s shenanigans, even better!